Occupational Safety Specialist II
Iowa State UniversityAbout the role
Position Title:
Occupational Safety Specialist IIJob Group:
Professional & ScientificRequired Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of related experiencePreferred Qualifications:
Degree in Occupational Safety/Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Public Administration/Public Health, or related field (Agriculture).Technical training covering OSHA, EPA, or related workplace regulations, guidelines, and standards.
Experience implementing OSHA and EPA workplace safety programs for agricultural safety, grain handling facilities, and pesticide management.
Experience working with farm operations, including grain handling, animal husbandry, and agricultural machinery.
Experience developing and administering safety training.
Job Description:
Protect people. Support research. Strengthen a culture of safety.
Iowa State University’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is seeking a skilled Occupational Safety Specialist II to join our team. This position offers a unique opportunity to support the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)—a world-renowned leader in agricultural and life sciences education, research, and outreach.
We're looking for a safety professional who is detail-oriented, solutions-driven, and ready to take initiative. You’ll work closely with faculty, staff, and students across a wide range of environments—from research labs to farms and greenhouses—helping to maintain high standards of workplace safety and compliance.
What You’ll Do:
Conduct inspections and safety assessments of buildings, labs, shops, and field locations.
Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses; recommend and track corrective actions.
Deliver in-person and online safety training to faculty, staff, and students.
Assist with regulatory compliance, safety planning, hazardous materials management, and emergency response.
Collaborate with EH&S colleagues and CALS leadership to support safety initiatives across 14 departments and 33 centers and institutes.
Position Highlights:
Full-time, on-site position located in Ames, Iowa.
May require occasional evening, weekend, or holiday response to campus emergencies.
Intermediate-level role with opportunities to lead projects and mentor others.
Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.
About Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S):
EH&S at Iowa State University helps protect the campus community by promoting health and safety, preventing injuries, supporting research compliance, and preparing for emergencies. Reporting to the General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer, EH&S serves as a trusted partner to faculty, staff, and students across the university.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.
Example of Duties
• Inspects University facilities and equipment for safety deficiencies.
• Develops mitigation strategies and generates written reports.
• Conducts building emergency readiness reviews.
• Evaluates safety equipment, emergency procedures, and building, shop and/or laboratory equipment for safety features.
• Identifies workplace hazards and completes assessment.
• Assists with hazard mitigation strategies.
• Completes accident/injury/illness investigations.
• Uses monitoring equipment and other technologies to analyze and/or control environmental conditions.
• Assists campus clients with safety concerns, permit conditions, hazardous material storage and inventory assistance, regulatory assistance.
• Assists in development of signage, posters, and site-specific safety initiatives.
• Assists campus clients on preparedness for various workplace hazards, including fire, chemical, radiological and/or biological spills/releases, and compressed/liquefied gas usage.
• Responds to University emergencies that occur during the workday, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays; assists local emergency responders during crisis situations.
• Reviews and updates written publications and online training materials.
• Provides safety training to campus clients.
Level Guidelines
• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals
• Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues
• Exercises judgment withi
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